About Our County

• Location: Nuckolls County is located in the U.S. state of Nebraska, bordering Kansas to the south
• County Seat: The county seat is Nelson
• Area: The county covers a total area of approximately 576 square miles, with 575 square miles of land and 0.7 square miles of water
• Population: As of the 2020 Census, the population was 4,095
• History: Nuckolls County was established in 1860 and organized in 1871. It was named after Stephen Friel Nuckolls, a pioneering Nebraska settler
• Geography: The Republican River flows through the southwest corner of the county. The terrain includes low rolling hills and several creeks
• Economy: The economy is primarily agricultural, with significant contributions from crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat

History

• Establishment: Nuckolls County was formed in 1860 and organized in 1871
• Naming: The county was named after Stephen Friel Nuckolls, a pioneering Nebraska settler, businessman, and banker
• Early Development: The county’s early economy was primarily agricultural, with settlers focusing on crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat
• Railroad: In 1887, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva, Kansas to Superior, Nebraska, which played a significant role in the county’s development
• Notable Events: Stephen Friel Nuckolls was involved in a notable incident in 1860 when he attempted to recapture an escaped enslaved woman, Eliza Grayson, in Chicago. This event drew national attention and highlighted the tensions of the pre-Civil War era